On Frozen Blog

Both big papers this afternoon hosted helpful time-killing/nerves-distracting chat sessions — the Post with Caps’ beat reporter Tarik El Bashir and the Times with Ted. There was terrific give-and-take banter in both; we urge you to check them out in their entirety.
The owner, on his youthful recreational hockey background: “We played roller hockey on 6th avenue and 45th street. Or we ran around and played with a crushed beer can as our puck. I miss those days! I once hit a slap shot and the crushed can embedded itself into my friend’s calf. He needed a tetnus shot, but he made the save!”
On his good luck superstititions and pluralism in the owner’s box:
Question: Do you have certain rituals for big games, like a lucky tie or socks or guests at a game?
Ted Leonsis: “I do now . . . what I listen to on iPod when working out — I have to wear my red Caps home jersey and I have a certain lucky watch. And I have a Georgetown Jesuit priest in the box tonight, and I have the hockey rabbi working on our behalf too.”
On the big concern about the prevalence of orange and black in the Phone Booth tonight:
Ted Leonsis: “We did everything we could to sell only to Caps fans — I am hopeful we will have a red out — but if our fans re-sell their tix on Stubhub, etc. — what can we do? We did not sell any tickets in blocks to any Philly organizations.
“I hope we see how loyal Caps fans are — and that they believe in the team. You are our 7th man.”
Over at the Post chat, Tarik took a questions about the durability of local support for the Caps; the keys to the series, and a rejuvinated Sergei Fedorov:
Washington, D.C.: It’s great to see so many Caps fans at the games now. Do you think that all these fans are for real and are genuinely going to stick with the Caps and follow them? Or do you think that they are fair weather fans that may wither away?
Tarik El-Bashir: “I think these fans have been out there all along. They were just waiting for the product to justify spending a few hundred bucks to see a game.”
Chantilly, VA: If you had to break the series down to one or two key points, what would they be? Does it boil down to goaltendending time and time again?
Tarik El-Bashir: “Two things:
“1) Stay out of the penalty box. The Flyers’ power play was second in the regular season at 21.8 percent.
“2) Keep the crease clear. Huet can’t stop the shot if he can’t see it.”
Warsaw, VA: Sergei Fedorov seems like such a class act. I can’t think of anything better to happen to a player of his caliber in the twilight of his career (except of course, to win it all).
Has this experience rejuvenated him? It seems like it has rescued him from the doldrums of a regimented system approach to one that is closer to a style that suits his game and skill. Is he enjoying the experience, partcularly being back in the spotlight in Russia as a member of the Caps?
Tarik El-Bashir: “He’s loving life at the moment. He’s said a number of times that this experience has made him feel 10 years younger. The presence of the three other Russians — and the winning — helps, of course.”
“It’s going to be interesting to see if he takes less money and re-signs here, or if opts for another payday somewhere else, or if he retires.”